Somerset caregiver arrested after abuse allegations

PULASKI COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - SOMERSET, Ky. (WKYT) - The Kentucky Attorney General’s office was called by personnel at Oakwood after a 22 year old caregiver was accused of enticing one man to fight another one, and then videotaping it with his cell phone.

Coty King of McCreary County was arrested by an investigator with the Attorney General’s office when he arrived for work at the Somerset facility Monday. The citation states that King caused two mentally challenged male adults to engage in a physical altercation for amusement. And the allegations are that he recorded video of that fight..with his cell phone. King didn’t want to talk about the allegations from the Pulaski County jail..but his girlfriend..and the mother of his child is speaking out in his defense.

She says King is the most kind-hearted gentle person she knows and he would not intend any harm on any person. She says she feels there is more to this than is being reported..and feels others are to blame that have not been held accountable.

King’s arrest is the last in dozens of arrests, citations, and indictments dealing with Oakwood since 2004. From 2005 to 2006 there were 24 serious citations for caregivers accused of abusing residents and at one time, the facility was threatened with the loss of its federal funding.

The state took over management of the facility and since 2006 its been managed by Lexington based Bluegrass.org and its web site states that the Somerset “ facility is now one of the premier Intermediate Care Facilities in the Nation, public or private."

King is charged with two counts of knowingly neglecting a vulnerable adult. That’s a class “C” felony punishable by 5 to 10 years in prison.

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